Ex-servicewoman turns grief into poetry after finding community in Gosport
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She published her debut book after finding support in a wild swimming women’s group
An ex-servicewoman has channelled her feelings of grief and loss into a new poetry book after the encouragement of a Gosport sea-swimming community.
Lisa Wilson, 58, broke up with her wife of 14 years shortly after losing her mother and was consumed by feelings of loss.
“I was in a 14 year marriage. We both lost our mothers and then moved house to Clanfield. We were there for about 9 months before we split.
“I was still grieving my mother and she sort of checked out and, one day, she told me she didn’t love me. I fell into this dark hole.”
Ms Wilson had been writing poems previously to help her cope with life, and said she wrote “hundreds” of poems during this difficult period to process the big changes in her life.
“My poetry at the time was all about her,” she said. “I was just rattling around this house on my own and my mother was gone, I felt lonely.
“This group kept popping up on my social media in Gosport, Women Who PLNGE, a group of women who go in the sea every Sunday morning. I never really liked going into the sea but I thought this keeps coming up so maybe I should go.
“I turned up one Sunday to about 85 women on the shoreline, and I just kept going back. I found a community and they helped me believe in myself to make more poetry.”
Ms Wilson set herself a target of publishing a collection of her poetry by the end of 2026, and after reaching out to a publishing agent, has released her new book, Treading Lightly, with of her 65 poems.
She said: “I feel overwhelmed and so proud of myself. This could actually help somebody.”
The book is now available online, but Ms Wilson will also be hosting an in person launch on November 14 at 4pm at On The Water Restaurant in Lee-on-Solent. The event will feature readings from the poems and copies of the book will be available for purchase.
You can buy a copy of Treading Lightly on Amazon here.